Sneakers have had a huge popularity for a long time, Diorio said, but it has grown even more since the advent of smart phones and social media.

“From my perspective, [the popularity of the sneakers] has been passed down from generation to generation,” Diorio said. “With social media, it’s become even more extreme and accessible. Ten years ago, it was more of a word of mouth thing. Now, social media is a new advertising platform. If I put something out on my company’s Facebook page, it’s gobbled up right away.”

Basketball players and hip-hop artists wear prerelease sneakers that build up anticipation among their fans and further promote the sneakers, Davis said. He added that after the sneakers sell out, they are often resold at much higher prices, sometimes upwards of $1,000 a pair.

“I didn’t know anything about sneakers, and then a friend got me hooked on it and he taught me everything about the culture,” Davis said. “Then I became good friends with the employer and employees at Extra butter and I kept learning more and more.”

When asked which sneaker is his favorite, Davis did not hesitate.

“My favorite sneaker I’ve ever had is the Jordan 11 Concord,” Davis said. “I love the whole design of it. It’s not too crazy and it can go with any outfit.”